Words matter both literally and figuratively. I want Ruth to not only love words and languages but to have a mastery of them. Some loves are instinctual and some loves have to be cultivated. If genetics have anything to do with it, Ruth will love learning. She will love words. She will love books. But to support and expand her love of words, I plan to do a bit of cultivation. I am exposing her to books, poetry, music, theater…
Baby Ruth has already been on 3 cross country flights. Her first flight was when she was 10 days old. We flew from San Francisco (where she was born) to Pittsburgh (where I was going to spend the bulk of my maternity leave). All of our flights have been relatively stress free thanks to advanced planning and some smart tips. Here are a few of my tips for a less stressful journey. Space is your friend. If you can afford…
No trip to San Francisco would be complete without a visit to my former neighborhood: The Mission. On this trip, I decided to take Baby Ruth to see the “Chata” Mural. Carlos “Kookie” Gonzalez is the artist behind the “Chata” mural. The mural depicts a neighborhood legend who was a popular radio host and DJ named Micaela “Chata” Gutierrez, In 2013, she passed away after battling liver cancer. The mural has its origins in the design of a fundraising flyer…
I am a sucker for a good museum. Recently, Baby Ruth and I visited her hometown of San Francisco, California. I decided to check out two museums that had opened after I moved away from the city by the bay. First and foremost, if you are looking for some intellectual stimulation or discourse, these aren’t your museums. If you are looking for sweetness, color, fun and giggles, then check out both of these places next time you are in in…
Vote or Die. I take voting seriously. My family takes voting seriously. Not so long ago, people were beaten brutalized and murdered for the right to vote. I’ve been involved in politics since I was a little girl and i will be “political” until I take my last breath on this earth. It is my duty to those who came before me and my responsibility to those who come after me. Today, I proudly walked my daughter to the voting…
My hometown is in mourning. Last week the unthinkable happened in a place some thought of as sacred. Eleven worshipers in a synagogue were gunned down by a domestic terrorist. I was in San Francisco when I heard the news. I saw someone post on Facebook that there was an active shooter at the Tree of Life synagogue. I knew almost immediately that if there were any fatalities that someone I knew was amongst the murdered. Sadly, I was right.…